Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda
Encyclopedia
Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda is one of the most important monuments in the old part of Islam
ic Cairo
, Egypt
. This building is an example of Ottoman and Mamluk
architecture mixed with Islam
ic architecture. It was built in 1744 by a pioneer Egypt
ian architect, Katkhuda of Egypt
who was one of the most intelligent architects of his time. Some architects describe it as "The treasure of Ottoman architecture".
, Egypt
. The architect, Katkhuda, produced it with every small detail.
Sabils and Kuttabs were almost everywhere in old Islam
ic Cairo
during Mamluk
and Ottoman times. Sabils are facilities providing free, fresh water for thirsty people who are passing by. While Kuttabs are primitive kinds of elementary schools that teach children to read and write.
The architecture of this time was so delicate that even simple facilities like Sabils were designed to be pieces of art. The builder 'Abd al Rahman Katkhuda' provide; in his buildings pieces of art that even now gives witness to the creativity and greatness of the era.
The Sabil-Kuttab was built to achieve the maximum available visibility in Al-Muizz Lideenillah street. This was achieved through building it with three freely standing sides.
The building consists of two main parts. The southern part is two stories high and contains the Sabil and the Kuttab from which it derives its name. The northern part is not registered and is being used now as living apartments.
The Sabil-Kuttab was built using the Mamluk
style which continued to overwhelm all the styles of such buildings even after the Ottoman conquest in 1553.
The building is open on three sides and consists of grey and white stones inlaid with marble reliefs. There are also, tiles with embedded pillars at its corners.
The entrance of the Sabil has artistic writings which are verses from the Quran about "Ahl Al-Kahf
". This is commonly seen in the Katkhuda's buildings.
The Kuttab is located on the second floor and is composed of five marbled columns holding the beautiful painted roof. The windows are wooden and have beautiful artistic design. This type of window is called "Mashrabeyya" which is characteristic of almost all Islam
ic Cairo
's buildings. The door and the cupboards are wooden and are carved and painted.
The structure sits on a triangular site formed by the splitting of Al-Muizz Lideenillah Street into two branches. It serves as a visual focus for the termination of this major spine, especially to those approaching it from the monuments of the Qalawunids in the Bayn al-Qasrayn area.
The three sides of the building (northern, southern and western) are symmetrical, accurately identical, and all equal in length. Each contains all the interface to hold half the circular based on two columns of marble. In the middle of the half-circular structure is a big opening that contains the cups for people to drink. The opening is covered by a uniquely designed copper mesh with holes allowing the passage of the cups in between the holes.
The entrance of the Sabil leads to a small corridor with three doors. The first door, on the right leads to the water storing tank; the second door, on the left leads to a room with openings from which the people can drink (the Sabil); the third door, opposite to the entrance, leads to the stairs of the Kuttab. The horizontal dimensions of the Sabil room are 4.0 x 3.5 meters.
The kuttab room is present in the second floor and it has the same dimensions as the Sabil room with three windows each called mashrabeyya.
The Sabil-Kuttab of 'Abd al Rahman Katkhuda of 1744 was named for its patron, a Mamluk
Amir (prince) and leader of the Egypt
ian Janissaries. He died in 1776. He did much work in Cairo
including developments to Al Azhar university and mosque.He also rebuilt the dome of the Qala'un Mosque
after an earthquake in Egypt
.
An Arabic word for the place or the building which offers free fresh drinking water to passers-by or whoever asks for it.
Is a place which provides elementary education for children. It was very common in old Islam
ic Egypt
. Kuttabs are still available as an activity of some mosques to teach the children the Quran.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. This building is an example of Ottoman and Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
architecture mixed with Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic architecture. It was built in 1744 by a pioneer Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian architect, Katkhuda of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
who was one of the most intelligent architects of his time. Some architects describe it as "The treasure of Ottoman architecture".
Titles
- Sabil and Drinking-Trough of 'Abd al Rahman Katkhuda
- Sabil-Kuttab of 'Abd ar-Rahman Katkhuda
- Sabil-Kuttab of Abd al-Rahman Kethuda.
Introduction
Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda is an important monument in CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The architect, Katkhuda, produced it with every small detail.
Sabils and Kuttabs were almost everywhere in old Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
during Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
and Ottoman times. Sabils are facilities providing free, fresh water for thirsty people who are passing by. While Kuttabs are primitive kinds of elementary schools that teach children to read and write.
The architecture of this time was so delicate that even simple facilities like Sabils were designed to be pieces of art. The builder 'Abd al Rahman Katkhuda' provide; in his buildings pieces of art that even now gives witness to the creativity and greatness of the era.
Description
The building consists of two main parts. The southern part is two stories high and contains the Sabil and the Kuttab from which it derives its name. The northern part is not registered and is being used now as living apartments.
The Sabil-Kuttab was built using the Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
style which continued to overwhelm all the styles of such buildings even after the Ottoman conquest in 1553.
The building is open on three sides and consists of grey and white stones inlaid with marble reliefs. There are also, tiles with embedded pillars at its corners.
The entrance of the Sabil has artistic writings which are verses from the Quran about "Ahl Al-Kahf
Al-Kahf
Sura al-Kahf "The Cave" is the 18th surah of the Qur'an with 110 ayat. It is a Meccan sura.-People of the Cave:Verses 9 – 26 of the chapter tell the story of the People of the Cave . Some number of young monotheistic men lived in a time where they were persecuted. They fled the city together, and...
". This is commonly seen in the Katkhuda's buildings.
The Kuttab is located on the second floor and is composed of five marbled columns holding the beautiful painted roof. The windows are wooden and have beautiful artistic design. This type of window is called "Mashrabeyya" which is characteristic of almost all Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
's buildings. The door and the cupboards are wooden and are carved and painted.
The structure sits on a triangular site formed by the splitting of Al-Muizz Lideenillah Street into two branches. It serves as a visual focus for the termination of this major spine, especially to those approaching it from the monuments of the Qalawunids in the Bayn al-Qasrayn area.
The three sides of the building (northern, southern and western) are symmetrical, accurately identical, and all equal in length. Each contains all the interface to hold half the circular based on two columns of marble. In the middle of the half-circular structure is a big opening that contains the cups for people to drink. The opening is covered by a uniquely designed copper mesh with holes allowing the passage of the cups in between the holes.
The entrance of the Sabil leads to a small corridor with three doors. The first door, on the right leads to the water storing tank; the second door, on the left leads to a room with openings from which the people can drink (the Sabil); the third door, opposite to the entrance, leads to the stairs of the Kuttab. The horizontal dimensions of the Sabil room are 4.0 x 3.5 meters.
The kuttab room is present in the second floor and it has the same dimensions as the Sabil room with three windows each called mashrabeyya.
Architecture
- MamlukMamlukA Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
architecture: EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian architecture which has produced many wonders of the IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic architecture.
- Ottoman architecture: Big domes, columns and very elegant design.
About the builder
- Abd al Rahman KatkhudaThe Sabil-Kuttab of 'Abd al Rahman Katkhuda of 1744 was named for its patron, a Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
Amir (prince) and leader of the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian Janissaries. He died in 1776. He did much work in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
including developments to Al Azhar university and mosque.He also rebuilt the dome of the Qala'un Mosque
Qala'un Mosque
The Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qala'un Mosque is an early 14th century mosque at the Citadel in Cairo, Egypt. It was built by the Mamluk sultan Al-Nasr Muhammad in 1318 as the royal mosque of the Citadel, where the sultans of Cairo performed their Friday prayers. The mosque is located across the...
after an earthquake in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Terminology
- Sabil:
An Arabic word for the place or the building which offers free fresh drinking water to passers-by or whoever asks for it.
- Kuttab:
Is a place which provides elementary education for children. It was very common in old Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Kuttabs are still available as an activity of some mosques to teach the children the Quran.